Transcript

1. Francis Mitchells Marvin Story

   A Marvin family  story Francis Mitchells Marvin StoryMay 4th, 2010 www.marvinwatches.com
   

   Presenter's Notes: 1

2. Early Days

   Here is the story of my old Marvin self-winding watch.I started my career in the Merchant Marine when I was just fifteen years old.  As was the norm back then, my first assignment was as trainee purser, but I soon realized that it was not the job for me. Early Days www.marvinwatches.com
   

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3. The Merchant Marine

   It was while speaking to one of the other trainees that it he informed me that he was not happy in his job as the trainee ships pilot as the Captain was a tyrant. This got me thinking so much so that I went to the ships personnel office and asked if we could exchange jobs.  And after they spoke to the Captain, I became the new ships trainee pilot. The Merchant Marine www.marvinwatches.com
   

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4. A Friendship is Born

   It soon became apparent that the Captain and I had quite a lot in common. He had also joined at fifteen, and unlike most recruits, did not come from a privileged background.  I actually ended up moving in with his family for the five years of my training, and we became very close friends. A Friendship is Born www.marvinwatches.com
   

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5. Always Late with a Hamilton

   The main problem he had with me was my time keeping.  This became was a standing joke between us.  I always blamed my watch running slow as a reason for my lateness. He would say one day I am going to throw that old Hamilton of yours over board Mitchell.  There was never any doubt in my mind that he would. Always Late with a Hamilton www.marvinwatches.com
   

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6. «Go get yourself a Marvin!»

   One day we were docked in Hong Kong and I was about to go on shore leave when I heard him shouting at me! Mitchell, remember and set your watch fast so you might be on time tomorrow morning! I shouted back it might not be my watch that's wrong it could well be yours and he looked at me insulted and said listen Mitchell, my Marvin will be telling the right time when you guys are all dead and buried.  Go get yourself one. « Go get yourself a Marvin! » www.marvinwatches.com
   

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7. The Seiko Mistake

   I then set off on my shore leave and decided to spend some of the money I had saved on a Marvin watch like the Captains - thinking it might shut him up.  I must have gone into 8-10 shops but not one of them sold Marvin.  It was all Seiko.  So in the end I settled for a Seiko plain white face and paid approximately a weeks wages for it. I thought I was the coolest guy as I arrived back on board. The Seiko Mistake www.marvinwatches.com
   

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8. «Marvellous Marvin»

   The Captain  grabbed my wrist and said What in hells name have you gone and done Mitchell?!.  My feeling of pride soon evaporated.  He also said the next time we were onshore he will take me get me a Marvellous Marvin - his pet name for his watch.  He later called my watch the Sad Seiko. « Marvellous Marvin » www.marvinwatches.com
   

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9. The Captain Retires

   It was some years later and while visiting the Captain at his family home that he pulled me aside and said Well Mitchell, did you ever get yourself a good watch?He then informed me that he was retiring due to ill health and had put me up as main contender for his post.  Later, I discovered he had been diagnosed with colon cancer and the prognostic was not good. The Captain Retires www.marvinwatches.com
   

   Presenter's Notes: 9

10. Passing on the Marvin

    Six months later the Captain I had come to see as a father figure transferred command to me and said Here you are Mitchell, and handed me his beloved Marvellous Marvin.  I became quite emotional knowing the real reason for his departure.  He then gave me a hug and said When its says 7.30am its definitely 7.30am Francis, so enjoy and I hope it stays with you through as many memorable times as it has been with me. Passing on the Marvin www.marvinwatches.com
    

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11. There Goes a Good One

    It was approx four months later in Hong Kong that I received a call saying he had passed away.  Being on the other side of the world, I never got to attend his funeral but remember looking at the watch (Marvelous Marvin) at the time of the funeral and saying there goes a good one. There Goes a Good One www.marvinwatches.com
    

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12. The Wedding

    From there onwards I went on to have many great memories with the watch. For example, on my wedding day, standing at the church waiting on my wife, seeing 2:30pm on my watch and thinking she was late! The Wedding www.marvinwatches.com
    

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13. A Son is Born

    Later, I remember waiting outside the labor room for the birth of my son Kevin and hearing him scream at 12.35 on August 30th, 1964. The doctor came out and said you had 7lb boy at 12.38 Mr Mitchell.  And I said no, the scream was at 12.35 on my watch. Later on the nurse said the doctor had changed the time to go by my watch. I laughed inside and thought that my old Captain friend would have loved this one. A Son is Born www.marvinwatches.com
    

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14. Kevin Misses Out

    I actually bought Kevin a Seiko on my travels to Hong Kong. I had always intended to give him the Marvin, but much to my regret gave it to my trainee when he later moved on to his own command. I think I was trying, misguidedly, to emulate my old Captain (a tough act to follow).  The Seiko was eventually stolen. I only hoped that the young lad I had given the Marvin to would go on and enjoy it as much as I did and it would hold many new memories for him. Kevin Misses Out www.marvinwatches.com
    

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15. Marvin is Part of Me.

    Some people wonder how can I get so caught up in a watch. But its the things I did when the watch was on my wrist, and the times and dates that the watch was a major part of. It made sure I was somewhere when I was meant to be.  As the Captain used to say If Marvellous Marvin says its 7.30 then as far as Im concerned, its 7.30. Marvin is Part of Me. www.marvinwatches.com
    

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16. The Tradition Lives On

    It was only when Kevin showed me Marvin on Facebook that I told him this story.  I don't think he was too happy  I gave the watch away.  So I decided to get him a new Marvin. I want him to have something he can anchor memories to as I did. So we had a look and he fell in love with the M103. The Tradition Lives On www.marvinwatches.com
    

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17. Thanks for sharing Francis!

    I sure have enjoyed sharing this story with my son and you. Thanks  for sharing Francis! Well I hope you will find my story compelling and hopefully I have not bored you stiff. But even as I was remembering some of the details it became quite an emotional revisiting of my past 80 years with my Marvellous Marvin at my side. www.marvinwatches.com
    

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18. Third Generation Mitchell

    Third Generation Mitchell Meet Kevins little girl Ellie. We welcome the 3rd generation of Mitchells into the Marvin fold to continue the tradition.Huge thanks to the entire Mitchell clan for their kindness and accessibility from the entire team at Marvin Watch C° ! www.marvinwatches.com
    

    Presenter's Notes: 18